Context
The lakeside commune of Sô-Ava, located 25 km north of Cotonou, is home to approximately 180,000 people spread across 69 villages built on Lake Nokoué and along the Sô River. Most dwellings are built on stilts, and several villages are only accessible by canoe. Despite its tourism potential, Sô-Ava is among the three poorest communes in Benin. Its economy relies mainly on fishing and agriculture, with limited access to basic social infrastructure, particularly in education.
The local education system faces numerous challenges: overcrowded classrooms with more than 100 students, a lack of adequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and extreme household poverty. In 2017, only 60% of children in the area had access to school, but just 25% reached the primary school certificate (CEP), and only 5% went on to university. School dropouts remain frequent, mainly due to a lack of school supplies, demotivation, and poor long-term educational prospects.
In response to this situation, and in alignment with the Sô-Ava Communal Development Plan (“PDC”), a primary school block was established, consisting of 6 classrooms, an administrative office, a library, an educational play center, and a school transport service, to promote complementary, playful, and inclusive learning.
In 2024, a foundation, a first classroom, and an office were built to serve as the starting point for developing a secondary education cycle. This progress addresses a growing demand for access to quality secondary education in a commune with over 53,516 young people aged 15 and over (RGPH4). At this stage, additional funding is needed to complete the development of a fully functional secondary school within the same educational complex.
Goals
The project aims to improve access to quality secondary education in the commune of Sô-Ava by creating a structured, inclusive, and adapted learning environment. Its objectives are to:
-
Provide equitable access to education, with at least 50% of enrolled students being girls;
-
Improve learning conditions through adequate infrastructure and smaller class sizes;
-
Contribute to increased school success rates each year in the commune.
Activities
The project focuses on expanding the Collège Communautaire St Anne du Lac, initiated in 2024. In 2025, funded activities will include:
-
Construction of 3 additional classrooms and a staircase;
-
Furnishing the 3 classrooms with school furniture;
-
Purchasing 90 books to enrich the existing school library;
-
Broadcasting 4 monthly educational radio programs to promote school attendance, especially for girls, through the ToSô community radio station.
Key Performance Indicators to be reached (KPIs)
-
3 classrooms and a staircase built in 2025;
-
120 students enrolled by the end of 2025 (30 per class), with at least 50% being girls;
-
A minimum school success rate of 60% (compared to the previous 45–47%), measured through internal report cards.
Myriad Canada is working with the Organisation Non Gouvernementale Boussole de la cité (BC-ONG) to implement this project. BC-ONG is a Benin-based organization whose mission is to support the development of villages in the lakeside region through culture, information, education, and communication; to defend, protect, and promote the rights of children and women; to protect the environment; and to promote population health and local economic development.
Since 2004, BC-ONG has carried out numerous development projects in Sô-Ava, including youth training, the launch of a community newspaper and radio station, and the construction of classrooms and sanitation infrastructure. Between 2009 and 2015, the organization led major programs focused on child protection, women and youth empowerment, and the development of local tourism. More recently, from 2017 to 2023, BC-ONG improved access to water, strengthened school infrastructure, and supported the economic resilience of local producers through fish farming and market gardening projects.
Myriad Canada’s role is to carry out charitable activities across the globe in accordance with its charitable purposes. We control and monitor the use of funds and the progress of charitable activities to ensure that donations made to Myriad Canada have the greatest impact in accordance with donors’ expressed wishes. As a member of the Myriad Alliance with offices in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, Myriad Canada has a vast international network and extensive practical expertise.
How to support this project?
By credit card: At the top right of this page, indicate the amount you wish to donate, and make the donation online by credit card. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes by e-mail just a few minutes after making the donation. It is simple and fast!
By cheque:
- Make your cheque out to Myriad Canada.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: We receive a lot of cheques! You must please indicate “Project C331 – Collège Communautaire St Anne du Lac, Bénin” in the memo line of your cheque to ensure that it is allocated correctly.
- Mail your cheque to: Myriad Canada, 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 1670, Montreal, QC, H3B 2B6, Canada.
By Direct Deposit:
- For transfer instructions, please email or call Caroline Chaulet: caroline@myriadcanada.org or +1 514-481-2000.
For Donation of Securities:
- Please email or call Caroline Chaulet: caroline@myriadcanada.org or +1-438-300-8122.
For Monthly Donations:
- We use CanadaHelps. Please find the link here.
All donations are eligible for a tax receipt in Canada.
The projects are managed with the greatest care and professionalism.